[EllaMinnow]

From the article:

"Mr. Gioia has tried to move beyond the culture wars that swirled around the agency for years. He has nurtured support among influential members of Congress, including conservative Republicans like Representatives Charles H. Taylor and Sue Myrick of North Carolina. He has held workshops around the country to explain how local arts organizations can apply for assistance.

Public support for the arts was hotly debated in the 1990's. Conservatives complained that the agency was financing obscene or sacrilegious works by artists like Robert Mapplethorpe and Andres Serrano. Former Senator Jesse Helms, Republican of North Carolina, repeatedly tried to eliminate the agency.

Some new money sought by Mr. Bush would expand initiatives with broad bipartisan support, like performances of Shakespeare's plays and "Jazz Masters" concert tours.

Mrs. Bush also plans to introduce a new initiative, "American Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Artistic Genius." This would combine art presentations — from painting and literature to music and dance — with education programs. The program would give large numbers of students around the country a chance to see exhibitions and performances."


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I just can't get too angry about an agency that wants to promote Shakespeare, Jazz, and American art.
It's far from the days of Mapplethorpe and jars of urine.

What do people have against Shakespeare?

[KantianBurke]

What do people have against Shakespeare?

Nothing at all. Shakespeare funded by stolen funds from the taxpayers however...

[windchime]

"What do people have against Shakespeare?"

I don't think he was a 'true conservative'. :)